Latest news with #Finasteride
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
My marriage became sex-starved then ended because of a common hair loss drug – I was so lonely I became suicidal
Read on for more side effects of the hair loss drug AT A LOSS My marriage became sex-starved then ended because of a common hair loss drug – I was so lonely I became suicidal A WOMAN has revealed that she left her husband after their marriage became sexless thanks to a common drug for hair loss. Thammika Songkaeo shared her heartbreaking story on the Moral Medicine podcast. 3 Thammika says the hair loss drug destroyed her marriage Credit: Youtube/Moral Medicine 3 Her husband had used the drug in the past but the ongoing sid effects were too much for her Credit: Getty Now a bestselling author, she revealed the dangers of the prescription drug that men rarely know about. Thammika said she noticed that her love life was nonexistent while they were still dating. Her then-boyfriend told her that it was because he had taken Propecia — the brand name of finasteride. Finasteride is a prescription drug that is commonly used to treat male pattern hair loss. It works by blocking the production of a male hormone that contributes to hair loss. However, it comes with a host of side effects, including: erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive and ejaculation problems, including reduced ejaculate volume. At first, she figured it would only be a temporary problem, but that soon changed. 'I did not at all realise that it was permanent, serious [and] devastating,' she said. The pair still decided to stay together and ended up married for seven years. She even convinced her ex to take an erectile dysfunction drug to improve intimacy. 3 Now she hopes to raise awareness on the drug Credit: Youtube/Moral Medicine Taking lovers has improved our relationship but threesome on TV left me in tear The couple even welcomed a daughter, but the sex life never really improved and Thamika was feeling lonelier than ever. Eventually, she decided to call it quits on her sex-starved marriage. She said: "I couldn't really detach myself from this person because I saw what happened, and I said, "This is definitely not this man's fault." "And what I needed to do personally was move away from the relationship as a romantic partner because I couldn't do it, I couldn't live in a sexless marriage." Help for mental health If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, 116 123 CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) 0800 585 858 Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) 0800 068 41 41 Shout (for support of all mental health) text 85258 to start a conversation Mind, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary). YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too. Rethink Mental Illness, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate). Heads Together, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. Now, she is trying to raise awareness on post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) - condition in which someone experiences severe side effects after they stop using finasteride. 'The depth of the loneliness I felt was to the point where I, myself, was becoming suicidal or having suicidal thoughts,' Songkaeo said. 'I had to call the suicide hotline because it became that bad for me — and, usually, I'm a pretty happy person.' She questions the ethics of distributing a drug that can have such potentially devastating consequences. 'Finasteride has the capacity to dissolve one person so much that it becomes this domino effect…there's just so much destruction around it — and it feels like unnecessary destruction,' she said.
Jordan News
4 days ago
- Health
- Jordan News
Discover the Causes of Hair Loss and How to Treat It - Jordan News
Learn about the main causes of hair loss, its symptoms, psychological and health effects, as well as effective medical and natural treatment methods. Hair loss patterns vary from person to person. It can be temporary and resolve once the cause is removed, or it may be chronic requiring specialized treatment. The pattern of hair loss can be diffuse across the scalp or localized in specific areas. Causes of Hair Loss There are many causes of hair loss, including genetic, hormonal, psychological, nutritional factors, as well as some medical conditions and medications: Genetic and Hormonal Factors: Androgenic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness) is one of the most common causes, resulting from sensitivity of hair follicles to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Disorders such as thyroid disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and reduced estrogen after menopause also contribute to hair loss. Medical Conditions: Autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata, fungal infections of the scalp, lupus erythematosus, anemia, and psoriasis. Psychological and Physical Stress: Severe psychological stress or physical trauma such as surgery or high fever can trigger telogen effluvium (stress-related hair loss). Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of proteins and vitamins like vitamin D, iron, zinc, biotin, and B vitamins directly impact hair health. Medications: Certain treatments, including chemotherapy drugs, antidepressants, blood thinners, and some blood pressure medications, can cause hair loss as a side effect. Chemical Hair Treatments: Frequent use of hair dyes, chemical straightening, and heat styling tools weakens hair and leads to shedding. Pregnancy and Childbirth: Hormonal changes after childbirth cause temporary hair loss in many women. Aging: Hair follicles gradually weaken with age, producing thinner and less dense hair. Tight Hairstyles: Styles that pull hair tightly, like braids or ponytails, cause continuous tension that weakens hair roots. Symptoms of Hair Loss Gradual thinning at the front or crown of the scalp, the most common pattern. Circular bald patches (alopecia areata). Diffuse thinning resulting in overall reduced hair density. Large amounts of hair found on pillows or during washing. Scalp itching or inflammation, sometimes with dandruff or redness. Psychological and social impact: Hair loss can cause significant emotional distress including anxiety, depression, and loss of self-confidence, affecting social and professional life especially in youth or image-conscious environments. Treatment Methods for Hair Loss Treatment depends on diagnosing the cause and selecting the appropriate approach. Medical Treatments: Minoxidil: Topical application twice daily. Finasteride: Oral medication, effects appear after several months. Dutasteride: Used for cases unresponsive to other treatments. Advanced Therapies: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy. Low-level laser therapy. Hair transplantation. Daily Care: A protein-rich diet (meat, fish, eggs, legumes) and vitamins/minerals such as A, B, C, D, E, iron, zinc, omega-3 and omega-6 support hair strength. Proper scalp and hair care: use suitable shampoo, wash hair 2-3 times weekly, avoid hot water, tight hairstyles, and reduce heat styling tools. Natural oils and treatments: coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, argan oil, and rosemary oil nourish and improve hair health. Lifestyle changes: exercise, relaxation techniques, quality sleep, quitting smoking and alcohol, and using products to protect from UV rays. Nutritional supplements: biotin, multivitamins, and omega-3 supplements can help improve hair condition. Integrated Treatment Steps: Consult a dermatologist to determine the cause. Conduct hormonal and vitamin tests. Treat underlying medical issues like thyroid disease or iron deficiency. Use topical creams or injections for alopecia areata. Therapeutic shampoos containing ketoconazole. Daily scalp massage for 5–10 minutes. Weekly hair masks such as egg and yogurt, coconut oil and honey, or aloe vera gel. Hair loss is a complex problem involving health and psychological factors. With accurate diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan, hair vitality can be restored, boosting self-confidence and quality of life. اضافة اعلان
Euronews
09-05-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Which cancers are rising among people under age 50?
Cancer before the age of 50 is rare but increasing, and researchers want to know why. A new US government study provides the most complete picture yet of early-onset cancers, finding that the largest increases are in breast, colorectal, kidney, and uterine cancers. Scientists looked at data that included more than two million cancers diagnosed in people ages 15 to 49 between 2010 and 2019 in the US. Of 33 cancer types, 14 cancers had increasing rates in at least one younger age group. About 63 per cent of the early-onset cancers were among women, according to the study published on Thursday in the journal Cancer Discovery. "These kinds of patterns generally reflect something profound going on," said Tim Rebbeck of the US-based Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who studies cancer risk and was not involved in the research. "We need to fund research that will help us understand". The researchers compared cancer rates in 2019 to what would be expected based on 2010 rates. Breast cancer made up the largest share of the excess cancers, with about 4,800 additional cases. Meanwhile, there were 2,000 more colorectal cancers, 1,800 more kidney cancers, and 1,200 additional uterine cancers than would be expected. Reassuringly, death rates were not rising for most cancers in the young adult age groups, although increasing death rates were seen for colorectal, uterine, and testicular cancers. Explanations will take more research. The big databases used for the study don't include information on risk factors or access to care. Theories abound, and a big meeting is planned later this year to bring together experts in the area. "Several of these cancer types are known to be associated with excess body weight, and so one of the leading hypotheses is increasing rates of obesity," said lead author Meredith Shiels of the US' National Cancer Institute. Advances in cancer detection and changes in screening guidelines could be behind some early diagnoses. For breast cancer, the trend toward women having a first child at older ages is a possible explanation. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are known to reduce risk. This isn't happening across the board. Cancer rates in people under 50 are going down for more than a dozen types of cancer, with the largest declines in lung and prostate cancers. Cigarette smoking has been declining in the US for decades, which likely accounts for the drop in lung cancer among younger adults. The drop in prostate cancer is likely tied to updated guidelines discouraging routine PSA testing in younger men because of concerns about overtreatment. A medication to treat men's hair loss comes with a rare risk of suicidal thoughts, the European Union's drugs regulator has determined. The safety committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it reviewed 313 reports of suicidal ideation among people taking the drug finasteride, which can stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss for men aged 18 to 41. Finasteride is sold in 1 mg tablets under brand names such as Propecia. Meanwhile, 5 mg tablets are used to treat prostate enlargement that can cause problems urinating. Most of the reports of suicidal thoughts came from people taking the 1 mg tablets, but 'the frequency of the side effect is unknown,' the EMA concluded. Finasteride – which already comes with warnings about mood changes, such as depression and suicidal ideation – will remain on the shelves because the safety committee concluded that its benefits outweigh its risks. But the 1 mg tablets will now come with a card that reminds people of the risks and advises them on how to handle side effects, which can also include decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction, the EMA said. The agency said people who experience mood changes while taking finasteride 1 mg should stop taking it and seek medical advice. The warnings will also be added to the medicine dutasteride, which is another treatment for prostate enlargement. The EMA safety committee did not have evidence linking the drug to suicidal thoughts, but because dutasteride works the same way as finasteride, the information will be added as a precaution. The agency noted that there were only a few hundred reports of suicidal ideation among about 270 million patients taking finasteride and 82 million taking dutasteride.
Euronews
08-05-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Hair loss drug linked to risk of suicidal thoughts, EU regulator says
A medication to treat men's hair loss comes with a rare risk of suicidal thoughts, the European Union's drugs regulator has determined. The safety committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it reviewed 313 reports of suicidal ideation among people taking the drug finasteride, which can stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss for men aged 18 to 41. Finasteride is sold in 1 mg tablets under brand names such as Propecia. Meanwhile, 5 mg tablets are used to treat prostate enlargement that can cause problems urinating. Most of the reports of suicidal thoughts came from people taking the 1 mg tablets, but 'the frequency of the side effect is unknown,' the EMA concluded. Finasteride – which already comes with warnings about mood changes, such as depression and suicidal ideation – will remain on the shelves because the safety committee concluded that its benefits outweigh its risks. But the 1 mg tablets will now come with a card that reminds people of the risks and advises them on how to handle side effects, which can also include decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction, the EMA said. The agency said people who experience mood changes while taking finasteride 1 mg should stop taking it and seek medical advice. The warnings will also be added to the medicine dutasteride, which is another treatment for prostate enlargement. The EMA safety committee did not have evidence linking the drug to suicidal thoughts, but because dutasteride works the same way as finasteride, the information will be added as a precaution. The agency noted that there were only a few hundred reports of suicidal ideation among about 270 million patients taking finasteride and 82 million taking dutasteride. Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates pledged on Thursday to give his entire fortune away over the next 20 years to support global health initiatives. Gates, who co-founded tech giant Microsoft in the 1970s, said he will donate 'virtually all' his wealth through the Gates Foundation, a charity that has become a giant in global health and anti-poverty programmes since he founded it with ex-wife Melinda French Gates in 2000. Gates had originally planned for his fortune to continue funding the organisation for decades after his death. But the tech tycoon said he's changed his mind. 'There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people,' Gates said in a statement. 'That is why I have decided to give my money back to society much faster than I had originally planned'. The tech tycoon said he expects the foundation to spend more than $200 billion (€175.8 billion) through 2045. The Gates Foundation said this would double its current spending levels. While the organisation's overall priorities aren't changing, it will home in on three key goals: curbing preventable deaths among mothers and babies, addressing lethal infectious diseases, and lifting 'millions of people out of poverty,' the foundation said. The announcement comes amid widespread cuts to global health efforts. Led by President Donald Trump, the United States has slashed both overseas health funding and programmes, which experts have warned could have devastating consequences. Without the US's roughly $12 billion (€10.6 billion) in spending on global health in 2024, for example, roughly 25 million people could die over the next 15 years from HIV, tuberculosis (TB), maternal health complications, and in early childhood, one analysis found. European countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, and France, have also cut their budgets for global health and foreign aid since last year. Earlier this week, the United Nations' AIDS agency said it would cut its workforce by more than half and move remaining staffers to cheaper posts in response to drastic budget cuts from donors.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE My marriage and sex life was ruined by common drug taken by millions... please heed my warning
Thammika Songkaeo knew instantly her husband was the one when they met in 2011. The pair connected almost immediately and married two years later, welcoming a daughter into the world together. But despite how deep their emotional connection was, there was always one thought nagging away at Songkaeo: her husband was not that interested in sex. When they first met, her now ex-husband told Songkaeo how he had low libido and erectile dysfunction which he said started after taking finasteride, a drug used by millions of men to prevent hair loss. But she dismissed his problems as 'something temporary'. When he struggled to perform in the bedroom, she got him to take Viagra. Fearing being labeled a 'sex addict', she avoided discussing it with friends — but quickly started to feel isolated, and became depressed, and then suicidal. After seven years, she ended the relationship and filed for divorce. Finasteride is sold by telehealth companies for as little as $30 for a month's supply, with doctors saying it can prevent hair loss with little more than a pill a day. The drug was originally developed for men with an enlarged prostate, but it has since become a popular hair loss treatment. Around 2.6million men in the US take the drug. It works by blocking the conversion of the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a compound thought to cause hair loss by shrinking hair follicles on the scalp. But DHT is also crucial for sexual arousal, erectile function, and genital tissue health, and its reduction. While the drug shows a remarkable ability to promote hair growth, some men pay a steep price. Some say the drug ruined their sex life, genitals and relationships — even long after they stopped taking it. Songkaeo's husband was prescribed the drug by an unnamed health clinic and took it before they met. Doctors believe he was suffering from post-finasteride syndrome, a condition of persistent sexual, neurological, physical and mental adverse reactions in patients after they take finasteride to treat hair loss. Her experience inspired her to write a book about a woman stuck in a marriage with an asexual husband in Singapore, titled: Stamford Hospital. Speaking to Songkaeo said her husband told her he was suffering from side effects of the drug after they became a couple. 'We noticed... that there was something off about the physical intimacy,' she said. 'There just wasn't the amount or intensity that there would be in my experience of a relationship.' She added: 'I thought it was something that could be overcome, as in I did not think it would be a lifelong thing — and from what I understood from my ex-partner there was no way for him to know if it would be a lifelong thing. 'I thought, "maybe it will be ok. Maybe what it is will be ok ". It turns out, it was not ok.' The couple met on the East Coast, and initially dated there before moving to her native Singapore together. Songkaeo said in an interview with Moral Medicine — which raises awareness over harms caused by finasteride — that the couple tried Viagra to help with intimacy. But after the birth of their daughter, she felt that what physical intimacy there was had now almost gone — and that there was just too little in the relationship. 'I felt extremely lonely at that point,' she told this website, 'I've never felt that kind of loneliness in my life and never knew loneliness like that could be possible. 'It felt like a loneliness that had no place on this Earth. It was very intense and harrowing. 'And became like something that I could not live with, because it became very intense and harrowing.' After speaking to her husband about their differences, the pair decided to amicably end the relationship. Songkaeo said she experienced opposition from her family, who are from Thailand, when she revealed she was ending her marriage over problems in the bedroom. But since the relationship was resolved, she and her husband have remained best friends — and now happily co-parent their daughter. She would never, however, re-enter the relationship. Finasteride works by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, which — according to the Cleveland Clinic — is typically found in the genitals. About two to three percent of finasteride patients experience side effects, doctors say — with the most common being problems getting an erection, less interest in sex and problems with ejaculation, such as little or no semen. Doctors tend to tell patients that these will subside after they stop taking the drug. Giving other women advice on how to handle the issue, she said: 'Letting compassion for both people guide the conversation leads to the best results. A conversation that is led by love and understanding for both people. 'I really don't think that people who suffer from post finasteride syndrome should be treated as anything other than victims of a very dangerous drug in terms of the side effects it can give. 'At the same time, I don't think that any partner needs to endure the effects as if they were inconsequential.
